NJ politicians praise passage of Sandy flood aid

Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill., left, and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of Calif., shuttle between the House floor and the offices of House Speaker John Boehner, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, as the new 113th Congress meets for the its first full day. At last, the storm-racked Northeast got a House floor vote on billions in disaster relief aid for victims of October's Superstorm Sandy, but only after a host of East Coast Republican lawmakers threatened a near mutiny against GOP Speaker John Boehner. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

NEWARK (AP) — Days after blasting House leadership for inaction, New Jersey’s congressional delegation had praise and applause for their colleagues Friday, lauding the passage of a measure to fund flood claims from Superstorm Sandy.

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a $9.7 billion measure to fund the National Flood Insurance program.

Congressman Chris Smith said the measure is “critically important” to help New Jersey recover and rebuild.

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“The devastation unleashed by Sandy is without precedent and the impacted communities are in dire need of comprehensive assistance,” Smith, a Republican whose district was affected by the storm, said in a statement. “Nowhere is this more evident than in the sheer magnitude of the housing damage and the subsequent housing need.”

Representative Frank LoBiondo said the money is crucial.

“Today’s vote is a key step in getting critical federal assistance to the residents, businesses and communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy,” LoBiondo, a Republican, said in a statement. “This week’s events make it clear that the need for help is real and that any additional delays in providing federal aid will be met with fierce resistance from myself, members of the delegation, and Governor Christie.”

House Speaker John Boehner delayed a vote on the aid package earlier this week. New York and New Jersey’s congressional delegation blasted Boehner Wednesday, saying the states most affected by Sandy were being ignored.

The Oct. 29 storm severely damaged parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie showed he was willing to aim barbs at the highest reaches of his party, saying the $60 billion bill “could not overcome the toxic internal politics of the House majority.”

Under pressure, Boehner scheduled a vote on the flood insurance portion of the package to Friday. Without the money, the flood program could have run out of money next week. A vote to put an additional $51 billion toward Sandy relief will take place Jan. 15.